Pet Encounters

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Pet Encounters

• A pilot AAT program for frail older adults
• Gulf Coast Pet Partners
• Linda L. Buettner
• Florida Gulf Coast University

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Objectives of todays session

• Describe major conditions of older adults that
  will be addressed in Pet Encounters Groups
• Detail the skills needed at each of the four Pet
  Encounters stations.
• List steps in preparation of a Pet Encounters
  group for work in your community.

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Teams use Human-Animal BondThe human-animal
interaction has existed for centuries evolving
from the use of animals for

• Survival purposes (food, beasts of burden)
• Companionship (pets)
• Therapy agents for various health
• care needs.

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The Human-Animal Interaction

• It is felt the unconditional love and affection
  animals offer can result in improvements in the
  cognitive, physiological, psychological, and
  spiritual aspects of a persons life.
• (Cole Gawlinski, 2000 Jennings, 1999)

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Amber Nosey Lady
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Effects of the Human-Animal Interaction

• It has been proven through multiple studies that
  patients/clients do benefit from human-animal
  interaction
• Physiologically decreases blood pressure, heart,
  and/or respiratory rates.
• Psychologically reduction in anxiety, increased
  alertness and attention span, distraction from
  pain and illness.
• Psychosocial decreased feelings of loneliness,
  increased verbal communication.
• Spiritually sense of fulfillment and oneness
  with life and nature.
• (multiple sources available)

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Types of Human-Animal Interaction(Apart from
pets in the home)

• Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)
• Animal-Assisted Activities
• Service Dog Programs
• Pet Partners Programs

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Delta Society

• MISSIONPromotes animals helping people improve
  health, independence, and quality of life
• Courses to prepare teams for AAA AAT
• Pet Encounters fits the mission!

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Delta SocietyPet Partners

• 8 hour course
• Work with pet to develop skills and aptitude for
  therapy work.
• Pass the PPST and PPAT
• Retest every 2 years
• Provided with insurance.

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Where would Sparky fit in?
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AAT

• Refers to goal directed services using trained
  teams to improve or maintain some area of
  function.
• Each client has a therapy goal, and a trained
  health care provider follows and documents the
  clients progress

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One health provider with 4 Pet Partners Teams

• Extends the reach of the health professional
• Start by providing Delta Society 8 hour course
  for Pet Partners
• Work with 3-4 teams to set up a AAT group session

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Why target frail older adults?

• Chronic diseases of older people are costly
  financially and psychologically.
• Isolation
• Quicker and sicker
• CFPA focuses on Older Adults in SW FL

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Pet Encounters Manual

• Describes a system set up to deliver AAT to frail
  older adults
• 4 Pet Partners teams and one healthcare
  providerPet Encounter Group (PEG)
• Each session consists of rotating clients through
  4 stations to work on goals.

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Pet Encounter Group (PEG)

• Refers to four pet partners teams a health care
  provider who provides clinical oversight
• Each team has specific training for that
  particular station and tasks to work on there.
• Clients rotate from station to station and come
  together at the end of each session for a group
  de-briefing relaxation.

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Chronic Illness

• Memory Disorders
• Stroke (CVA)
• Chronic pain
• Parkinsons Disease
• Depression
• Quality of life of older adults with chronic
  illnesses are severely impacted

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May not be able to

• Get out and about
• Socialize with friends with shared interests
• Take care of a pet because of limitations

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Quality of Life and Pet Encounters

• Successful aging is a combination of these three
  factors(Baltes Baltes, 1996)
• the avoidance of disease and disability,
• continued active engagement in life, and
• the optimize physical, social, and cognitive
  skills

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Problems you will see

• Isolation and lack of friends
• Lack of enjoyable mobility experiences
• Lack of structure and routine
• Few opportunities for communication of feelings
  and emotions
• No motivation to work out or stay active
• Depression and lack of initiative
• Limited kind and gentle touch experiences
• Cant own pet

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Where???

• Senior Centers
• Adult Day Programs
• Nursing Homes
• Assisted Living
• Senior Housing
• Your community

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Setting up a Pet Encounters Group

• Step 1 Find three-four teams who will commit to
  working together.
• 90 minutes total per week
• 6-8 weeks in a setting
• Step 2 Find a therapist or nurse who will
  provide clinical oversight.
• Step 3 Find a supportive environment to do the
  program in.

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The PEG program environment

• 1. People with frailties need a quiet, orderly
  environment with structure.
• 2. For safety, maintain uncluttered stations and
  pathways.
• 3. Doors of different colors may help the
  individual find the bathroom signs are helpful.
• 4. Avoid high gloss, slick floors and cover shiny
  tabletops in the program area.
• 5. Avoid using scatter rugs, especially dark
  colored rugs except the roll out rug used in the
  Fetch Station.
• 6. Create pet oriented activity areas throughout
  the PEG area with interesting things to do.
•  

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Sample Layout
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Requirements of pet members of PEG teams

• Delta registered Pet Partner (insured)
• Pet should have one or more of the following
  skills
• Walk on a double leash without pulling
• Fetch and return predictably
• Love to be groomed (many times over)
• Love to be held and petted (repeatedly handled)

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Handler skills

•   Handler is on time, and brings all props.
•   Handler knows and understands the skills and
  limitations of clients.
•   Handler communicates with client on a
  one-to-one level and focuses at all times on the
  clients interaction with the animal.
• Note Handler and pet work together
  conscientiously to improve function of each
  client in the program

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THINK TEAM

•  Skills needed by pet ability to engage socially
  with clients with impairments, need to stay in
  immediate area and enjoy touch.
•  Skills needed by handler ability to ask
  questions about your pet designed to stimulate
  thought.
•  How to set up the Think Team Station Large
  banner or sign with the pets name and the
  handlers name. Table, chairs, pet props,
  notebooks.
•  Things to note (document) time engaged in each
  activity during the session, answers to
  questions, ability to believe he or she could
  do the task (self efficacy), decisions he or she
  made about the activities at hand.

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THINK Set Up
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Think Station
Possible Goals         Increased attention
to task         Problem Solving        
Cognitive Stimulation         Improved
Communication         Improved Judgment        
Improved decision-making process   Handler
Your clients should be seated in a semi circle
with your pet on a table in front of the
group. Your pet should be on leash but close
enough to each client so he or she can
easily stand up, take a few steps, and reach
the pet. Note You may choose to have your pet in
a baby carriage that can be moved from client to
client.  
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Out for a WALK TEAM

• Handler Your focus is lower extremity (LE)
  strength, endurance, and overall mobility.
• 1. Use of short and long double leash system
• 2. Understand how to lock, unlock, and lift foot
  rests of wheelchairs and rolling walkers. Be able
  to coach client to perform those skills before
  moving.
• 3. Assist clients by providing cueing to remain
  safe in sit to stand and stand to sit
  movements and in walking your pet over a variety
  of terrains.
• 4. Pet must enjoy walking with clients and
  perform this skill consistently without pulling
  on lead.

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WALK Set Up
Measure distances
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Walk Team Station
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Possible goals

•   Improved mobility
•   Increased endurance
•   Increased tolerance for activity
•   Improved strength and flexibility

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FETCH TEAM

• Fetch Team Handler Your focus is the use of the
  clients upper extremities (UE) to reach, grasp,
  and release items
• FETCH TEAM, skills needed
• 1.   Ability to fetch, return, and drop objects
  that are tossed by clients.
• 2.   Some hand and voice commands that are
  useful for this station sit,down, come, take it,
  and drop it.
• Handler must be able to maintain a safe and
  controlled exercise environment that uses the
  upper body. One section will be set up for
  throwing and fetching while a nearby area will be
  set up for UE tetherball.

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FETCH set up
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Possible things to work on

• 1.Minutes engaged
• 2.Number of throws (underhand and overhand)
• 3. Distance of throws 4. Reaching activities
  completed (number of times)
• 5. Sitting balance (stable with no assistance,
  assistance needed)
• 7. Standing balance (stable with no assistance,
  assistance needed)
• 8. Ability to take part in small group tetherball
  activities.

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GROOM TEAM

• Skills needed by pet Enjoys being groomed, will
  sit or lay down on a table while clients talk.
• Skills needed by handler Able to structure
  oneto-one grooming activity with clients while
  engaging a small group in emotionally based
  psychosocial session.

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GROOM Set up
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GROOM

• Goals
• Practice ADLs
• Some Mobility Skills
• Social skills and Feelings
• Communication
• Provide social-emotional outlet
• Significant improvements in all areas

Delta Society Robert Wood Johnson Funding
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Things to work on

•   Naming the grooming items and stating a few
  things about it.
• Using the grooming tools appropriately.
• Sharing the grooming items
•  Answer questions and elaborate if they wish to.
•  Ability of clients to discuss emotional topics
  in the small group (Positive reminiscence).

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Relaxation to finish
Pets and handlers outside and quiet!
Health professional completes this without you
Farewell in 5 minutes
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Relaxation Research

• 1. Use Guided Imagery script provided-darken the
  room.
• 2. Go around to each person to ask how would you
  rate todays session with the pets?
• Excellent
• Good
• Fair

Then handlers and pets return to say good-bye
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Document and Report
FLOW SHEET FOR AAT INTERVENTION (Richeson
McCullough,2002)     Clients name_______________
______________________________Date____   Station
Walk Fetch Think Groom   Please check the
box that best describes the clients behavior
during the AAT session.   1never 2one time
3two times 4more than three times
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Pet Encounters in Action
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Steps to take to set up Pet Encounters

• Pet Partners training.
• Complete Pet Encounters training and observation
  of PEG in action.
• Connect with 2-3 others to make a PEG.

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Questions???www.deltasociety.org